The Board of Selectmen were not happy that the Finance Committee opted to support the school instead of the board.

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Finance Committee is supporting Mount Greylock High School's budget, to the chagrin of the Selectmen.

 

The Selectmen previously voted to short the Mount Greylock budget about $16,000 because those funds were added after the town agreed to a lower amount.

 

The Mount Greylock School Committee presented one budget at the public hearing and then later added an additional $42,100 for a late bus and middle school staff team meetings. School officials say they heard at the public hearing the desire for those items at the hearings and that's why the members voted it in.

 

The Selectmen, however, felt the town had already given enough of an increase. They voted to recommend the lower amount. Following that vote, the Finance Committee voted in favor of recommending the total request, with that additional $16,000 coming from the town's remaining free cash.

 

"I am really disappointed the Finance Committee didn't back the Selectmen," said Selectman Henry "Hank" Sayers.

 

At town meeting, the budget presented to be voted is that of the Finance Committee so if the townspeople want to short the school, it would have to come via an amendment on the floor. 

 

The Selectmen are trying to keep the tax increase to 2 percent and free cash is the only avenue to keep the current budget balanced at that increase. Town Administrator Paul Sieloff has been separating the operating budget, of which the school allocation is part, from capital. He proposed using free cash for the capital budget. 

 

However, with the department budgets all set based on the lower school assessment number, free cash is the only way to fund the regional school district while keep to the 2 percent. Or, the town could revisit the budgets and cull it from other lines.

 

With a plan full of capital expenses, the additional $16,000 will leave only about $3,000 left in the free cash account. 

 

"I don't believe we should take it out of free cash," Sayers said.

 

In other business, the town is auctioning off two properties taken for back taxes. There are 8.1 acres on Bailey Road for sale and .6 acres at 40 Hobomack Avenue for sale. The Selectmen are entering a contract with Collar City Auctions to sell the properties. 

 

"The minimum bid would be the amount owed," Sieloff said when asked if there is a minimum bid requirement. "We have the right to reject all bids. I think this is going to be a successful auction."

 

Typically in real estate auctions, the winning bidder also inherits the back taxes on top of the price won at auction.

 

Also on Monday, the Selectmen tasked Sieloff with finding out what to do with road kill. The animal control officer is responsible for picking it up but the vehicle the town provides is falling apart and is unusable. The officer is only part time and has been using his personal vehicle for his duties. 

 

While charging the town mileage for his own vehicle seems to work for the short term because there may be changes to the job at the end of the year, Sayers says the officer isn't picking up animal carcasses in his own vehicle.

 

"We'll have to make arrangements to pick up the carcasses," Sayers said.

 

Sieloff said he'd look into it.